Maps

When I was a kid my mom laid out the grey formica table with linen place-mats imprinted with a map of the USA. NYC was marked with the Empire State Building, New Mexico with a sombrero, Wisconsin with a cow. So now when I plan a trip, in my mind's eye the roads stretch out across the linen and through the icons of the 1950's.

When I was 10, my mom drove my sister and me from Buffalo to San Bruno. I was the navigator, searching the maps for the right roads. My mom must have looked the night before and laid it out for me, but I only remember the maps in my lap and saying,  "turn here, look for hwy 89, no not there" as if it was my sole responsibility. The maps would get holes in the folds, or get folded wrong. Both were sources of potential adventures.

Lately, I use electronic maps for planning. I am partial to Google. I use the Get Directions feature to plot my trip. Unlike using a magic marker on paper, the computerized maps let me revise to my heart's content. The red line snakes it's way over the USA, and I am able to see the whole trip in front of me. Just like on the linen place-mat.